Naved seeks reason for ban

Pakistan all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan legally requested cricket authorities explain why he was banned for a year and fined heavily, an official said Wednesday.

"Naved has sent a legal notice to us in which he has inquired about the reasons of his punishment and we will soon respond to it," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi told AFP.

Naved was one of seven Pakistani players who were handed bans and fines on March 10, following an inquiry into team defeats in Australia and discipline breaches on earlier tours of New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on the tour of Australia between December and February.

Former captains Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned indefinitely "over infighting which brought the team down", while Shoaib Malik and Naved were banned for one year and fined two million rupees (24,000 dollars).

Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umer Akmal were also fined heavily.

On Monday, Yousuf announced he was retiring from international cricket to protest against the punishment.

Rizvi said players had been given reasons for their punishments and could appeal.

"We have already issued charge sheets and now the players can appeal to an arbitrator through the PCB governing board, and if the arbitrator asks us to give detailed reasons of punishments we will comply," said Rizvi.

The players have 30 days from the date of receiving the charge sheets to appeal to a three-judge tribunal.

The PCB has also received a letter from Younus demanding detailed reasons for his punishment.

"We have also advised Younus to appeal and if the arbitrator asks for detailed reasons of his punishment we will follow the process," said Rizvi.

Afridi was the first to appeal against his punishment.

Malik, whose engagement and imminent wedding to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza is making international headlines, and the Akmal brothers have also hinted that they may appeal.